Court bans man called Peter from calling himself Peter

A man called Peter has been banned from using the name "Peter" on the internet as a bail condition after being charged today with unauthorised use of a computer. Peter David Gibson, 22, from Hartlepool, was among three men and one unnamed 17-year-old charged at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court this morning for …

[SuperTim]

Peter?

So calling himself by his own name will encourage him to reoffend by being anonymous?

*facepalm

[Matt Bryant]

Can't use the name "Peter"?

Maybe the judge just threw that one in for the lulz.....

[Anonymous Coward]

...... lulz

They should bring back the stocks for these idiots. Kind of hard to DDOS a web site when chained up in the local town square and covered in rotting veg.

[TheItCat]

no it isn;t...

There's an app for that

[Intractable Potsherd]

But, Titus ...

... he has been bailed after being *charged" with the offences. He has not yet been found guilty of anything, so he is innocent, by dint of the Rule of Law. You cannot seriously be suggesting that innocent people should be tortured merely because they are suspected of doing things - we passed that stage several hundred years ago.

[Anonymous Coward]

@Intractable Potsherd

Indeed I stand corrected, if convicted they should bring back the stocks for these sort of folks. Tempting as it is to suggest this as a cheaper mechanism for remand than custody, I guess that would be a bit inhuman.

[Stuart 22]

To prevent re-offending ...

Gonna make credit card online purchases difficult. Unless he can lay his hands on a non-Peter piece of plastic.

[Simon Harris]

credit cards

Since the group claimed responsibility for DDoS attacks on Mastercard and Visa, he might not be in their best books anyway!

But am I missing something here - calling your group Anonymous but using your real name online? - what's that all about?

[melt]

str_to_lulz()

Does it also cover 'p3t3r'?

[Sir Runcible Spoon]

Sir

For Pete's sake, wtf?

[Anonymous Coward]

Even I understood it ...

And I'm old and well out of touch :)

[Anonymous Coward]

clear as a badges backside

> Not to use the internet using the name "Peter".

What the hell does that mean? Is his mom not allowed to call him by his first name when he's sat at a computer? If Amazon send him email starting "Dear Peter," is he screwed? If his email address is [e-mail] can he not sign in?

Not_Peter

[G C M Roberts]

Epic

That's his Google+ a/c stuffed then...

Mine's the coat with the hastily scribbled over name badge on it

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Epic

Not necessarily... Google is happy if you use a name you a known as, not just what it has on your passport, so "Pete" is probably fine, and in my book that doesn't string match "Peter".

[nowster]

Obvious!

It's to stop him being a rePeter offender.

[JudeKay]

Re: Obvious!

For Pete's sake ...

[sT0rNG b4R3 duRiD]

LOL@Nowster

Best comment posted here so far.

[Steve Evans]

*phew*

So glad all those terrible jokes seem to have petered out.

[Armando 123]

Hey

Quit being so salty </obscure>

[DrXym]

Change his name to Petre

I'm sure Stella Artois will sponsor his bail. They can ply him with enough cidre that he can't be arsed to touch a computre.

[Platelet]

The men and the unnamed minor

Shouldn't that be "The men and the anonymous minor"?

[TeeCee]

Re: The men and the unnamed minor

Peterphilia?

[ScaredyCat]

The title is required, and must contain badgers and/or bacon.

"The hacker formerly known as Peter"

[Daniel Garcia 2]

The right to use you own legal name

can be overthrown by a court???

sounds Kafkaesque.

[John McCallum]

Legal Name

Yes they can especialy if your name is Ronald McDonald no not that annoying prat the one I'm thinkung about is or was an Ironmonger in Scotland.Inverness I think.

[Armando 123]

Yes it can

I tried to join the musicians' union with my own name but they wouldn't let me because a famous (non-musician) performer at the time had the same name, and the local judge backed them up. So I tried to register as "Ringo Starr", arguing that he was a drummer, not a musician.

Some people have no sense of humor.

[Dave 15]

See, all those that thought judges were ill informed drunk tossers were wrong

Clearly wrong, this judge clearly has his finger right on the pulse.... which pulse I'm not sure

[Loyal Commenter]

@Dave15

Err, it's a chick pea I think

[Olafthemighty]

I imagine

The fuss will peter out soon enough.

[Pirate Dave]

eh...

Peter, Peter, lulzsec reader,

had no wife, nor any leader,

Got locked up, but then made bail,

Is he Peter? He can't tell.

[jai]

eh?

you mean someone on the internet was actually using their real name and not an alias? what is the (virtual) world coming to??

[Danny 14]

aha

you see no-one had thought of that before.

[Armando 123]

Brilliant idea, hiding in plain sight. He probably got the idea from The Purloined Letter.

That's a book.

A book.

You see, there are these things called "stories" that are printed on something called "paper" ... </fogydom>

[jonathan keith]

Book?

That's like a Kindle, yeah?

[Owen Carter]

The reason given was "to prevent reoffending"

So, not yet convicted but the Judge has already determined they might 're-offend'.

Humm. Due process etc..

It they are such a threat why not keep them on remand? I thought these were the international criminal cyberterrorist masterminds intent on destroying our way of life?

Cant we at least show them who's boss by hitting them with a control order and maybe forcing them to move to somewhere without broadband? Or is that only for men with beards?

[Will 28]

Prevention

You can prevent something without the assumption that the person is guilty of it. For example you can wear a condom to prevent contracting an STD, that doesn't mean you're accusing the person you're sleeping with of having one, just that you don't know for sure.

[Anonymous Coward]

Anonymous' real name is David

as any fule kno

[Anonymous Coward]

RE: Anonymous' real name is David

...and I thought it was Peter.

[David Neil]

re-offending

Unless I am very much mistaken, he has been found guilty yet.

How does that work?

I get charged with a motoring offence, and at the first hearing I'm told I can't use a car, before a verdict is delivered?

[Marvin the Martian]

Computer says yes.

Yes, when caught driving very drunk or at ridiculous speeds your driving licence gets taken in immediately. That's indeed before judgement.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'M PETER!

And so's my wife!

[bombastic]

Eh?

Surely allowing him to use his real name would quickly lead to detecting a re-offence? I mean there can't be that many Peters?

Maybe it's a double bluff, he can now leave secret 'Peter was here' text files on hacked servers safe in the knowledge he'll never be suspected! Brilliant!

[Hatless Pemberty]

Call me Ishmael

Since Peter is nothing but a nickname he should surely go back to the real name of Simon.

Peter, from the greek "πέτρα", meaning stone or rock.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

I guess my education wasn't entirely wasted!

[Anonymous Coward]

I beg to differ ;0)

See title

[TheRead]

Well that's just harsh!

Now the poor guy won't be able to use Facebook at all!

[dotdavid]

"not to participate in any internet relay action"

Am I the only one that mentally put a "hot" in that sentence? Am I? Anyone?

Oh ok then.

[sT0rNG b4R3 duRiD]

^needs to get out more

Srsly :P

[Boggwoppit]

Internet Relay

I thought Internet Relay was an Olympic sport

[Haku]

Olympic sport

Yes, it's part of the 1000ms PING event.

[Anonymous Coward]

Shirley...

...both of these classify as some kind of human rights violation.

1. Denying freedom of speech.

2. I don't know what; but it's bound to be something.

[Danny 14]

indeed

I think the fact he was given a bail condition with the reason to prevent "reoffending" BEFORE he has been found guity is a bigger issue.

[Camilla Smythe]

Is your name not

Bruce?

[Aussie Brusader]

RE: Is your name not Bruce?

I think we're all down here in Oz....

[Levente Szileszky]

And I thought only we have these kind of idiot judges in very remote small towns...

...here in the US - but nope, apparently they are still alive overseas too.

My condolences.

<facepalm>

[Woza]

Just change his name

Not that big of a deal.

[Sir Barry]

It's very early and I have a hangover

He could just sign in as Tw@t....

Beer = hair of the dog.

[Anonymous Coward]

Am I the only one who didnt' miss this.....

His friggin name is Gibson....

Hat, Coat... Check!

[Anonymous Coward]

HACK THE PLANET!

"There is no right and wrong. There's only fun and boring."

[Anonymous Coward]

title

Well explain to it me.. what the fuck are you going on about? Perhaps I am just half asleep still?

[Winkypop]

Maybe he's also a member of

PETA ?

Then again, he's silly but NOT mad.

[Purlieu]

Whatever next

A judge overstepping his authority, who'd have thought it. I mean, applying sanctions to this guy before a verdict is delivered.

Perhaps he should now refer to himself as Josef

[Matt Bryant]

RE: Whatever next

"A judge overstepping his authority...." Wrong! The judge can set the terms of bail and, seeing as the accused is suspected of committing a cybercrime, the judge is well-within his remit to limit the chances that the accused will re-offend in a similar manner.

".....I mean, applying sanctions to this guy before a verdict is delivered....." Maybe you should go do some reading on bail conditions and the whole bail process before showing yourself up again.

[Boggwoppit]

I'm sorry Dave you can not do that

an unauthorised act in relation to a computer

[Anonymous Coward]

No facebook for him

That'll teach him

[mark 63]

I'm Brian , and so's my wife!

wont be using that google real names only thingy then

[Anonymous Coward]

Internet Relay

1) Not to be part of any internet relay and not to participate in any internet relay action.

LOLWHUT?

Im guessing they do mean Internet Relay CHAT but the internet is made up of "relays"

[PeterM42]

You can call me anything...............

................................but DON'T call me Fred.

PS: It wasn't me.

[Matt Bryant]

True punishment.

If the judge really wanted to punish him, then he would have sentenced him to get out and talk to real people at least one hour a day. Mind you, that kind of shock to the average Anons' system would probably kill them!

/off for a "team meeting" at the local!

[Intractable Potsherd]

Serious question here.

Is this condition even remotely enforceable? I mean, practically enforceable, rather than in the legal sense. I'm asking seriously, because I don't know and would like to learn.

[Anonymous Coward]

Another legal question

Is it the letter of the order that is enforceable or is it the intent... or is it both?

I sure would like to know the answer to that question.

I guess it would hardly matter though if it is the self same judge that gets to determine if the order was breached.

[N2]

Just makes the judges

look like a complete bunch of totally out of touch idiots

[Purlieu]

So Peter could

... wear a hoodie and dark glasses and then walk into an internet cafe in another town, say, erm, Telford, and then log into something as "Peter" and just how do law enforcement find out ?

[ScripterSi]

So....

...an alleged non-anonymous member of Anonymous is ordered to become anonymous (presumably within Anonymous and elsewhere) in order to prevent re-offending as an for a crime he has not yet been found guilty of while courts decide if if is in fact an Anonymous bloke who chose not to be anonymous or just some anonymous bloke who chose not to be in Anonymous?!?!?

My brain hurts!

[ArmanX]

It'll have to come OUT!

...And then you can apply for the position of Judge.

[Paul Hovnanian]

Change his name ...

... to Spartacus.

[John Stirling]

(non) anonymous

Isn't the fact that he was known on the internet by his real name rather good circumstantial evidence that he isn't actually guilty?

Surely the anon/lulz lot all have names like l33t h4x0r and sp00n 04 d00m and other cool stuff like that?

[Anonymous Coward]

Dont tell them your name Pike^h^h^heter

Don't tell them your name Pike^h^h^heter or you too will go on zee list.

Posted Anon because it is zee law.

--

Dad's army if anybody missed the reference